Circuit-closer.



G. M. HART '6L L. L. EVANS.

CIRCUIT CLOSER.

APPucATxoN man SEPLH. 191e.

Patentd Nov. 13, .1917.

NTTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GERALD M. HART, OF WILKES-BARRE, ENNSYLVANIA, AND LEWIS L. EVANS, 0F

A BRIDGEPORT, CONNECTCUT.

CIRCUIT-CLSEE.

'Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 13, 1917.

Application led September 11, 1916. Serial No. 119,491.

To all 'whom z'tmag/ concerqi:

Be it known that we, GERALD MICHAEL HART, a citizen ofthe United States, residing at Vtilkes-Barre, in the count-y of Luzerne, State of Pennsylvania, and Lewis LLEWELLYN EVANS, a citizen ot' the United States, residing at Bridgeport, in the county `of Fairfield and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new 'and useful Improve- 10. ments in Circuit-Closers; and we do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the'invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same. lhis invention relates to improvements in electric switches or circuit closers.

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The object of the invention is to provide a' device of this character so constructed as to render 1t certain 1n its operation and insure l a perfectelectrical connection between the fixed, and movable contacts thereof.

W' ith the foregoing and other objects in view, which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts andV in the ldetails of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the `invention herein disclosed may be made :1o within thc scope of what is claimed without fide )arting from the spirit of the invention.

n the laccompanying drawings: Fgurel is a side elevation of a switch constructed in accordance with this inven- 3'5 tion;

p Fic'. 2 is a plan view thereof;

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section taken on the #line .3--3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a transverse vertical section taken onthe ,line 4-'l of Fig. 1;

F ig. 5 is a detail horizontal section taken on the line 5--5 of Fig. 1; Fig. 6 is a detail vertical sectiontaken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 3; Fig. 7 is a. detail vertical section of a modified form of the invention.

In the embodiment illustrated, a supporting base 1' is shown constructed of brass or any suitable-metal with a pair of laterally extending laterally spaced terminal osts 2 and 3 mounted in insulated relation t creen, preferably near one end of said base plat-e. These posts 2 and 3 are preferably secured to aplate 4 of insulation by means of screws $3 5. the heads of which are countersunk iin said plate 1 to prevent contact of said heads with the base l. These posts 2 and 3 are lthus rigidly secured to tue plate -l, but in Fi g. 'T they are indicated at 2 and are shown pivotally mounted in U- shaped brackets 2. 60 Springs 3 are secured to plate 1 and bear -on the posts 2 i'or a purpose to be described.

The plate '1 is fixed to the base plate 1 by screws or any other suitable means and serves to completely insulate the terminal posts from said base plate. The free ends of the posts 2 and 3 are bifurcated and have peripherally grooved rollers 6 and 7 mounted therein. These terminals 2 and 3. are equipped with binding posts in the form of 7e headed screws 8 which are designed for connecting the terminals with the opposite .poles of an electric source, wires 9 and 1() being shownior this purpose.

Two' bear-in yarms or brackets 12 and 13 75 project lateral y in parallel and spaced relation from the base plate land between them is mounted a shaft '11. A sleeve 15 is rotatably mounted .on the shaft 14 and has extending therefrom and preferably made integral therewith two sector-shaped seg-v mental plates 16 and 17. These platesA are arranged in parallel and spaced relation with their 4peripheral edges in transverse alinement, and are connected and maintained in properly spaced relation by combined spacer-sand connectors 18 formed intcg'ral with the arcuate edges of said plates.

Lugs 19 project beyond the outer faces of the plates for a. purpose set' forth later. 90 Arcuate strips 20 of insulating material are secured to the arcuate edges ofthe plates 16 and 17 being in the form of radial exten- I sions onsaid plates and secured thereto by suitable -fastening elements which pass through laterally extending lugs 21 integrally formed-on the opposlteIfaces of, the inner edges of said strips and through the spacers 18 and lugs 19. These insulating strips 20 have Jformed therein adjacent one 100 'end alined n otches 22 which coperate to form a seat for a U-shaped contact 23, the legs of which form continuations of the ends of the strips and the free ends of said logs are arranged fiush with the peripheral edges of the strips. The ends of the legs of the contact 23 are straight-edged to provide cam face-s for engagement with the' rollers 6 and 7, said legs being shown .increasing in length from their inner edges toward their outer edges so that when the plates are movedy inward toward the baseplate, these cam faces will be forced into the grooves of the rollers and insure a perfect electrical connection between the contact 23 and the rollers. The edges of the strips 20 and the ends of the legs ofthe contact 23 are beveled 'on both faces to-adapt them to enter the grooves of the rollers 6 and 7. The spacer or connector 18 which connects the ends of the plates which carry the contact 23 is made integral lwith said plates and suitable fastening elements are passed through the intermediate portion or cross bar of the U shaped contact 23- and through said spacer 1S', thereby securing said contact in operative position, insulating plates 24 and25 being arran ed on opposite faces of said contact cross ar.

An arm'26 is secured to the sleeve 15 and is designedto be connected with any suitable actuating means not shown and Vwhich when operated serves to oscillate the con#l nected plates 16 and 17 to bring the contact 23 into or outl of enga ement with the grooved rollers 6 and 7. Vhen the contact engages said rollers an electric circuit is completed through the wires 9 and 10 which are connected with a battery not shown.

Dwing to the cam formationof the free ends of the legs of the contact 23, rotation of J the plates 16V and 147 in the direction of the arrow a will brin said contacts into en gement with the ro 1ersv 6 and 7 and wi iii-- sure'a perfect connection 4between said contact 23 and the terminal rollers even though wear should occur either on said contact or on the grooved faces ofthe rollers.

In the use of the modified form shown in Fig. 7, the operation is the saine as that above described the springs 3 servin to hold the rollers of the terminals 29 on w ich said springs bear in with the movable switc We claim:

1. In an electriccircuit closer, a. pair of laterally spaced terminal pos'tshaving rollers mounted to rotate therein, pivotally mounted arcuate members with their peripheries positioned for engagement with the pe- Illem 1.

ripheries of said rollers, and straightiedged connected contacts carried by the peripheries of said arcuate members to form 'cainffacesl relative to saidparcuate members for simultaneously engaging said rollers, and insuring contact therewith.

ieldi'n engagement members and increasing in length toward their outer edges to provide a cam engagement between said legs and rollers.

3. A circuit closer com rising a base plate, a. pair of laterally space( terminals reject-- ing laterally therefrom, bearin brac iets extending laterally from said hase plate at pointsspaced from said terminals, laterally spaced connected segmental plates with their apices pivotally mounted in said brackets andl their peripheries extending toward and engaging said `terminals, contacts arranged inv the peripheries of said seg mental lates and connected for the passage 'of an e eetrical current through them, and

means for operating said plates to engage and disengage said contacts and terminals.

4. A circuit closer 'comprising a base, a shaft sup orted'thereby, a pair of connected -segmenta plates rotatably mounted on said shaft, a pair of roller terminal contacts positioned to frictionally engage the peripheries of said plates,- and an insulated U- shaped contact with the legs thereof located in the peripheries of said plates with its cross har spanning the space between them.

5. In an electric circuit closer, a base plate, a pair of insulated laterally spaced terminal posts mounted thereon, grooved rollers carried by said posts, laterally s aced bearings on said plate, a pair p laterally s aced connected sector-shaped plates meunte to rotate in said bearings with their arcuate edges equipped with insulation and beveled to engage grooves in said rollers,

lated plate edges2 and means for operating said plates to bring said contacts into and outv of engagement with said rollers.

In testimony whereof We have hereunto set our hands in the presence of two sub-` scribing witnesses.

GERALD M. HART.

- LEWIS L. EVANS.-

Witnesses:

Tiros. F. Hain', WILLIAM Seminar.

connected contacts arranged in .said insu- 

